STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Teams met in Super Bowl 10 seasons ago with Patriots winning 32-29 on last-second field goal by K Adam Vinatieri. … New England is 84-21 in second half of regular season since Bill Belichick became coach in 2000. Patriots have gone 8-0 in second half of season four times and 7-1 three times under Belichick. … Patriots are 42-9 (.824) in regular season against NFC since 2001. … QB Tom Brady is 13-4 on Monday night with 41 TD passes and 14 INTs. … Brady had season-best 432 yards passing and four TDs in Week 9 win over Pittsburgh before bye. … Since 2011, TE Rob Gronkowski has 29 TD receptions, tied for third most in NFL. … Patriots defense has takeaway in 36 straight games, longest active streak in NFL. … DE Chandler Jones has five sacks in past four games. … FS Duron Harmon has INT in last two games. … Panthers have won five straight. … Panthers are first in league in time of possession. … Carolina converting 46.2 percent of third-down opportunities, third best in NFL. … Panthers FB Mike Tolbert has 30 touchdowns rushing since 2010, fifth most in league. … Since 2008, Panthers have more yards rushing than any team in league. … WR Steve Smith has 814 career receptions and needs two more to move past former teammate Keyshawn Johnson, Henry Ellard and Shannon Sharpe into 25th in NFL history. … QB Cam Newton is only player with at least 50 TDs passing and 25 TDs rushing in first three seasons. … TE Greg Olsen has four TDs receiving in past five games vs. AFC opponents. … DE Charles Johnson has 21 sacks and seven forced fumbles in last 22 games. … FS Mike Mitchell is only NFL player with at least three interceptions, two sacks and two forced fumbles. … Panthers defense has forced three-and-outs 14.4 percent of time, best in NFL.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The importance of tonight’s game against the New England Patriots is not lost on Cam Newton. Carolina (6-3) has won five straight behind the third-year quarterback and is “relevant” for the first time since winning the NFC South in 2008. “We need this more than anything,” Newton said. “The Carolinas need this more than anything.” The city …